Minnesota Vaccination Rates Trending in Wrong Direction

August 20, 2026

Minnesota received some disturbing news this week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as data shows that for the 2025-2026 school year, vaccination rates decreased and non-medical exemptions increased.  

Looking at one vaccination in particular, Minnesota's MMR rate dropped from 86.5% in 2024-2025, to 85.7% in the most recent data. A decade ago, the rate was 92.8%. To reach herd immunity, the percentage should be 95% for highly contagious diseases like measles. The last time Minnesota was above 95% was during the 2011-2012 school year.  

During the 2025-2026 school year, vaccination coverage among kindergartners in the United States decreased for all reported vaccines from the year before, ranging from 92.0% for diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP), to 92.4% for measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR) and polio vaccine. 

Coverage with MMR, DTaP, poliovirus vaccine (polio), and varicella vaccine (VAR) decreased in more than half of states, compared with coverage the year before. 

The number of kindergartners attending school without documentation of completing the MMR vaccine series was about 280,000 during the 2025-2026 school year. 

During the 2025-2026 school year, exemptions from one or more vaccines among kindergartners in the United States increased to 4.2% from 3.6% the year before. 

Minnesota reported 6.8% of kindergartners with a non-medical exemption from one or more vaccines (above the national rate of 4.2%). The MMA has advocated for legislation to prohibit the use of conscientious exemptions for the MMR vaccine, while maintaining existing medical exemptions. A bill was heard in committee this past session, but did not advance. 

Exemptions increased in 41 states and DC, with 24 states reporting exemptions exceeding 5%. 

The number of kindergartners exempt from one or more vaccines was about 155,000 during the 2025-2026 school year. 

See additional data on measles cases in 2026 in the United States: Measles Cases and Outbreaks | CDC.